Aladdin

A snowy drive to Keighley for my final panto of the season.  It was well worth battling with the elements to see this funny and well written panto – by Keith Marsden & Geoffrey Rundle (with additional material by Mark Coulthard). 

This super talented cast displayed excellent performances all-round – combined with a very colourful set and fantastic costumes to show them all off.

As Aladdin, Fiona Spencer had brilliant stage presence and she carried the title role with great style.  Fiona is every inch the perfect principle boy in both lib and song.  Her Princess So-Shi, Stephanie Laycock, had a lovely voice and their musical numbers were a joy to listen to. 

Princess So-Shi’s handmaiden (Carmelina Kirkland) also had a great voice to add into the musical mix.

With great comedy timing, James Windle was brilliant as Wishy Washy –this part was just made for him!  He had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand.  Well done James.

Widow Twankey is the perfect Dame role to be exploited to the full and Dean Harness didn’t miss a trick.  The Dames costumes were fabulous – a riot of colour. Widow Twankey and Wishy Washy are a dynamic duo in this panto (crucial to work well together) – James & Dean you did a brilliant job as the “mother” and son duo!

Comfortably at home supporting the comedy stakes was Philip Smith as the Chief of Police, and a very funny set of “Peking” policemen – they must have been exhausted with all that running around!  They all displayed excellent comedy timing and the kids (and adults) in the audience found their foolish antics hilarious. 

The Genie of the Lamp, superbly played by Jonny Tate, gave a flawless performance.  His stagecraft experience really shone out – and he was clearly at ease in this role.

Mark Hutchinson as Abanazar gave us a true ‘baddie performance – “rotten to the core” and he deserved all the boo’s and hisses the audience retorted with right from the word go!  Another example of how to get the audience eating out of the palm of your hand – well done on being such a nasty baddie!

There were also very strong performances throughout from Mark Brown as the Emperor (So-Shi’s dad) & Grand Vizier, played by Haydn Cavanagh - good character roles played with style and great timing.

Phoenix Hillier as the Slave of the Ring was deliciously blunt and to the point in her delivery of the well written lines – a very funny part, and I loved the sparkly boots!

The Magic Carpet ride was spectacular I have to say.  The “ooh’s and aah’s” could be heard around the audience.  Very magical indeed!

With a great supporting cast of Dancers, chorus and “kiddies” chorus this production was filled with fun, laughter and everything that a panto should have...including the slap stick scene in the laundry - hilarious!

There were some fabulous musical numbers – all under the direction of Geoff Garrett, with his great sounding orchestra.

Special mention must go to Oli Trenouth for his excellent sound design...and sound effects!  Lib and songs came over so clearly without sounding distorted or harsh – a great job well done.

Congratulations to all involved in this super production, both on stage and off.  A very colourful set, great props, fabulous costumes and make up, great wigs...what’s not to like!

You truly took us on a magical journey!

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